"From childhood," he answered. (Mark 9:21)
Put yourself in the shoes of this father. He has a son who has been robbed of a childhood. He hasn't been able to run and play with the neighbor kids. He has been a prisoner of an evil spirit; who has had hold of him for years. This father has been powerless to help his child.
What brought this family to Jesus' feet? How did they hear of Him? We don't know this, but we do know that having heard of this amazing man, this miracle worker, the father had faith that Jesus could help. "Jesus said, 'Bring the boy to me.'" That was all it took. For years this family was looking for an answer; since the boy's childhood he has been plagued by evil taking over his life. But in an instant, Jesus made the difference.
Isn't that how it works for us too? We struggle through life, dodging one catastrophe after another until we are at the end of our rope. We have tried to fix things, to control our life and repair our brokenness by ourselves. Until it doesn't work any longer - it never did really.
Then one day when the end of the rope is burning our fingers as it slips through them, we call out to the One who can change everything. I remember that day in my life. The day I cried out to a God I wasn't sure even cared, and pleaded, "Surely there must be more to life than this."
How often God removes our shackles in the furnace of affliction. -- Streams in the Desert (April 2)
Are you at that point yet? It is this prayer, this desperate call for help which began my faith journey. It can be the start of your faith walk too.
Mark 9:14-21
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